Healthcare assistant – East of England

Position
Health care assistant
Location
Clacton On Sea
Hours
Day/Night shifts available
Salary
£14.70 - £16.00 per hour
Closing Date
30/11/26

About the role

As a Healthcare Assistant (HCA), you are the heartbeat of patient care. In this rewarding role, you work on the front lines of medicine. You support doctors and nurses while making a real difference in people's lives every day. Your primary goal is to ensure that patients feel comfortable, safe, and well-cared for during their medical journey.

Every shift brings different tasks, but your main focus is always on personal care. You help patients with their daily routines, such as washing, dressing, and eating. If a patient has trouble moving around, you safely assist them in bed or help them walk around the ward. By doing these essential tasks, you help your patients maintain their dignity.

Beyond physical help, you act as the eyes and ears of the medical team. You take vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate. If you notice any changes in a patient's condition, you report them to the nurses immediately. Your quick observations can truly save lives. You also keep clinical environments clean, tidy, and fully stocked with essential supplies.

Equally important is the emotional support you provide. Being in a hospital or care home can be very scary for individuals. You offer a friendly face and a listening ear to anxious patients. Often, a quick chat with you is the highlight of a patient's day. You also talk with worried family members, offering them comfort and updates. To thrive in this career, you need great communication skills and deep empathy. You must follow strict health guidelines to keep everyone safe. Ultimately, you are the bridge between the patients and the medical staff. Through your hard work and kindness, you turn a clinical space into a place of true healing. If you want a meaningful job where you can help people daily, this career path is a perfect fit.

Key Responsibilities

  • To provide leadership to less experienced staff to ensure the development of best care practice and optimal outcomes for clients.
  • To provide therapeutic and personal care to our client group.
  • Promote the rights of clients to be treated with dignity and respect in every aspect of their lives
  • Respect the confidences of clients, except where to do so would result in harm to a client, damage to the organization or the commission of a criminal offence.
  • Establish supportive relationships with clients and encourage the development of stable relationships between clients and other staff, and their families and friends and within the group of clients.
  • Promote the emotional health and self-esteem of clients and support them through changes in living circumstances and personal relationships.
  • Support clients in making their own choices and decisions to the maximum of their capability and ensure that the needs and wishes of clients are fully considered in any decision relating to them.
  • Ensure the protection of clients from significant harm, by exercising vigilance, observing changes in client’s behaviour or appearance, and complying fully with the Vulnerable Adults’ policy.

Candidate Requirements

  • Applications will only be considered if you have:
  • PMVA 3-day training
  • Practical Basic Life Support Training Certificate
  • Ability to work fully flexibly, covering day, night and weekend shifts

Note: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position. Duties, responsibilities, and skills may vary depending on the specific needs of the individual or organization.

 

Rewards & Benefits

We are committed to your wellbeing, professional growth, and long-term carer success. Joining our team means becoming part of a values-led organisation that invests in you — not just as an employee, but as a professional and an individual.

With us, you will benefit from:

  • Competitive pay, including enhanced bank holiday rates
  • Comprehensive specialist clinical training
  • Regular, reliable shift patterns
  • Clear pathways for carer progression and professional development
  • A collaborative, respectful team culture where your contribution truly matters

Our people choose to build their carers here because they feel supported, appreciated, and proud to be part of something that makes a genuine difference.

Interview Requirement

All applicants will be taken through onboarding checks including:

  • Right to Work checks
  • DBS (on the update service)
  • Referencing
  • Training Certificates (verified)
  • Clinical Competency Interview
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